The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) works on nuclear weapons and climate change issues (as energy, nuclear power safety, and several other topics). The goal of UCS is to work on public policy issues that have an important scientific or technical component, by combing technical research with lobbying, public outreach, and media expertise.
From the UCS nuclear weapons page:
When the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the destruction was unlike anything experienced before. Tens of thousands of people died instantly. An entire city was destroyed in the flash of a single bomb.
Today, some 9,000 nuclear weapons remain in the world’s arsenals—with over 90 percent owned by the United States and Russia. Both countries are actively planning to build new weapons, sparking a 21st century arms race and increasing the risk of nuclear war.
Meanwhile, many of the Cold War’s most absurd and dangerous nuclear policies remain unchanged. In the United States, the president can order the launch of nuclear weapons without consulting anyone. And US policy allows it to use nuclear weapons first in a non-nuclear conflict with Russia, China, or North Korea—likely starting a nuclear war.
These policies and plans threaten the world in very real ways, and they need to change. You can help.
- Video: The Craziest Nuclear Weapons Policy That You’ve Never Heard Of
- Video: Space-based Missile Defense: Not a Good Idea
- Video: The Pain and Politics of Hiroshima
- Nuclear Weapons Solutions
Progress on US nuclear weapons policy may be slow and incremental—but it’s possible. - Nuclear Weapons Worldwide
Thousands of nuclear weapons exist in the world. The use of even one could change life as we know it. - US Nuclear Weapons
US nuclear weapons policies are alarmingly dangerous. - Nuclear Weapons
They’re the most dangerous invention the world has ever seen. Can we prevent them from being used again? - All Things Nuclear
Blog posts and analysis of nuclear weapons issues. - Reducing the Risk of Nuclear War
Steps and policies to reducing the risk of nuclear war. - The US Nuclear Arsenal
Here’s every nuclear weapon in the US arsenal. - How Do Nuclear Weapons Work?
Modern nuclear weapons work by combining chemical explosives, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion. - Voters Strongly Support a “No First Use” Nuclear Policy
The President should declare that the United States will never start a nuclear war. - US Missile DefenseUnproven, unaccountable, and unhelpful for reducing the nuclear threat.
- Preventing Nuclear War
It shouldn’t be easy to start a nuclear war. - Space-based Missile Defense
Space-based missile defense is an ineffectual defense at best, and a very dangerous provocation at worst. - Security and Arms Control Webinars
The Summer Symposium hosts security experts from across the globe, speaking on technical issues related to global security. - How to limit presidential authority to order the use of nuclear weapons
In the United States, the president has sole authority to order the use of nuclear weapons, for any reason and at any time. This arrangement is both risky and unnecessary.